Confirmed Trade: [TOR/TBL] Darren Raddysh (signs 8 years, $8.5M AAV) for 2026 5th round pick (MOD WARNING 253)

[HockeyVirus]

They didn't need yet another defenceman who can't play his position at the expense of one who can.

I don't want to shit talk Benoit cause he wore his heart on his sleeve but even he would tell you he is not a very good dman. He's in the NHL because he blocks shots, clears the crease, can put the puck off the glass and out, lay a hit, and drop the gloves. He's also a locker room vibes guy.

But a good player he is not.

 

[Strangle]

I cannot put in words how much I’ve missed a big clapper from the point.

It’s always been my favorite play in the sport and it’s about damn time I get to watch it again

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

paying a 30-year old guy 8.5 based on one good season is a regrettable contract
I get the cope and I get the desperation for the Leafs but it's nuts

3 good seasons *^

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

At this point, unless they bring in at least one more big defenseman I don’t want to move reilly

If Reilly can play 3rd pairing and run PP2 that keeps his minutes in check and gives us a lot more depth on D.

Don’t dump Reilly unless you’re getting an actual hockey trade done

That third pairing could be a massive issue defensively between Rielly's weak play and Andrae being tiny. Wouldn't ideally you want a bigger, more defensively reliable partner to play with either of those guys rather than them on the same pairing?

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

I cannot put in words how much I’ve missed a big clapper from the point.

It’s always been my favorite play in the sport and it’s about damn time I get to watch it again

Huge missing element on the pp for sure . Everyone should end up eating

 

[Nothingbutglass]

I cannot put in words how much I’ve missed a big clapper from the point.

It’s always been my favorite play in the sport and it’s about damn time I get to watch it again

nerds told me point shots are a waste of time

 

[Strangle]

That third pairing could be a massive issue defensively between Rielly's weak play and Andrae being tiny. Wouldn't ideally you want a bigger, more defensively reliable partner to play with either of those guys rather than them on the same pairing?

I agree, I think it’s Reilly Carlo on the 3rd pair

Limit their ice, give Reilly second PP unit

 

[Strangle]

nerds told me point shots are a waste of time

That’s why they’re NERDS!! Suck it NERDS!

 

[MCR74]

I don't want to shit talk Benoit cause he wore his heart on his sleeve but even he would tell you he is not a very good dman. He's in the NHL because he blocks shots, clears the crease, can put the puck off the glass and out, lay a hit, and drop the gloves. He's also a locker room vibes guy.

But a good player he is not.

This.

The Leafs traded Benoit, not Makar.

 

[sd1976]

Anyone have any idea as to why lighting fans, whose team is similar trying to stretch a competitive window, are almost unanimously pleased that he wasn’t resigned for this contract?

Copium. They would have signed him if they could have.

 

[Strangle]

Copium. They would have signed him if they could have.

They are kinda screwed now paying more in UFA for an older player

If they can land one

Leafs got better while weakening a division rival

 

[Oleksiak]

I don't want to shit talk Benoit cause he wore his heart on his sleeve but even he would tell you he is not a very good dman. He's in the NHL because he blocks shots, clears the crease, can put the puck off the glass and out, lay a hit, and drop the gloves. He's also a locker room vibes guy.

But a good player he is not.

You described the job of a defenceman pretty well.

 

[koyvoo]

Copium. They would have signed him if they could have.

They spent the entire season posting on his player thread about how they’d rather not, unless it was a short term, low salary contract.

 

[CantHaveTkachev]

3 good seasons *^

A good season is playing 17 minutes a night?

 

[Arthur Morgan]

Don't disagree on the risk of aging poorly, but there was never in a million years a way the Leaf's were signing DR to a 4 year deal. This is like the people saying "Don't like trade protection, just don't give it out!" ignoring the fact that situation would 100% guarantee that you're never getting a UFA to sign/extend with your team long term.

IMO - this was a gamble, and Chayka was left some pretty crappy cards from Treliving. This is doing the best he could with what he had. If this goes poorly, so did probably everything else and the Leafs are no worse off.

Comparison of a TERRIBLE deal would be to when Bowman was the Hawks MG and traded a boatload of assets to CLM for Seth Jones during a rebuild. Hawks essentially sent Boquist (recently drafted 8OA), 2021 12th OA, and their 2022 1st (ended up being 6OA) for Seth Jones (removed some extra picks which essentially cancelled out). That's a TERRIBLE deal for a rebuilding Hawks team which hampered the team going forward. If the Leafs melt down, IMO they are no worse off with this deal.

we will see down the road, 8 years is a long time, I didnt like the Tanev one either

 

[glenbuis2]

from a habs fan that’s a good deal . top 4 defenseman bringing offense . i think he’s decent defensively to . decent size . not soft .free asset . leaf fans should be happy .

just noticed that the corsi stats are great to .

also anyone saying his success was all because of kucherov he’ll be in good hands with nylander matthews knies and company.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

wow what a terrible contract for a 31 year old.

30 *^

 

[Strangle]

You described the job of a defenceman pretty well.

Except the fact that he has to do those things because he can’t pass the puck out of the zone

 

[jamincan]

I think you’re a little optimistic that Raddysh will just go away at age 36/37.

And I do like the contract. But like many players, he’ll likely be overpaid in his last few years. It’s no big deal.

Adjusting his AAV based on a buyout after 6 or 7 years would put it at 10.4 and 9.3 respectively. Not bad at all in my opinion and I think they could even stomach a buyout after 5 years (although better options would likely be available).

 

[D1az]

I really hope this will be a great contract. I love "late bloomers" like Raddysh or Bussi who work extremely hard to rise to new levels.

Of course time will tell whether this was a good deal, but I absolutely hope it will be.

 

[Leafshater67]

He fits this team’s window perfectly. The leafs will be cooked when Darren is. Who cares

 

[WetcoastOrca]

I really hope this will be a great contract. I love "late bloomers" like Raddysh or Bussi who work extremely hard to rise to new levels.

Of course time will tell whether this was a good deal, but I absolutely hope it will be.

I love the late bloomers too. And while there’s a lot of risk to this deal I do feel good for Raddysh. Kept working hard and finally realized his dream. It’s a great story!

 

[Gjman2019]

I really hope this will be a great contract. I love "late bloomers" like Raddysh or Bussi who work extremely hard to rise to new levels.

Of course time will tell whether this was a good deal, but I absolutely hope it will be.

Pretty darn good for an undrafted guy...........

 

[Budz]

Full NTC first 6 years
Last 2 years 16 team no trade list

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

Decent 2nd pair? No, he was a 6-7 defenseman who was scratched at the beginning of last season.

How many 6/7 d-men score around 35'ish points getting 18 minutes per night? How many of those guys can score 20g/70 points, be a positive player (I put this in because a bunch of his scoring last year was on the PP) while getting 22 minutes per night, and have the team not get absolutely TORCHED when the #1D is out? Lightning should have beaten the Habs (amazing job by Dobes), and that was Hedman unavailable and DR playing 26 minutes/game.

This was not a MA Bergeron situation get backpacked by Pronger and looking like an NHL d-man for a short time.

Capwages is still showing even $8.5M with no trade protection. Anyone have the actual contract details?